Box Score San Rafael, CA — A Senior Night match that started with tears ended with tears on Sunday night as the much-improved Dominican University of California volleyball team lost a two sets-to-none lead and suffered a heartbreaking 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 22-25, 10-15 defeat at the hands of Hawai'i Pacific University at the Conlan Center.

The memorable evening marked the final home game for Dominican seniors Ashlee Sand, Skyler Moon, Sarah Bain, and Katy Batchelder, who were recognized before the match in Senior Night ceremonies.

The Lady Penguins (6-15/4-9) won the first two sets and led 18-14 in the third set, 18-17 in the fourth set , and 5-4 in the fifth and deciding set. But, on the verge of a stunning upset over the Sea Warriors (14-8/8-6) and clinching a winning record at home for the first time since 2008, Dominican couldn't maintain its momentum.

“I thought we played hard. We played well,” said Head Coach Gayle Stammer. “Hawai'i Pacific has all the elements. They have some height. They have great defense.”

Jessica Jones topped the Lady Penguins with 19 kills followed by Hannah Stocking-Siagkris, who had 13, and Sand, who tied her season-high with 11. Stocking-Siagkris led Dominican in digs with 19, two more than freshman teammate Sari Kwan. Kelsey Lardner recorded a match-best 42 assists off the bench.

Amanda Moriarty netted 22 kills for HPU, which has won seven of its last eight matches.

In the opening set, the Lady Penguins trailed by as many as four points and by three, 21-19, when they staged a block party at the net and rallied for the set win, snapping  a 12-set losing streak to the Sea Warriors dating back to 2009. Blocks by Stocking-Siagkris, Samantha Rains, and Moon sparked the comeback and forced HPU to call timeout, then two more blocks by Rains caused the Sea Warriors to ask for time again. Kills by Sand and Jones finished the set.

The Lady Penguins were behind by six points after the Sea Warriors scored eight in a row early in the second set but Dominican, led by Jones' five kills, determinedly fought back.  A Kwan service gave the Lady Penguins the lead for good at 17-16. A Rains kill finished a streak of six consecutive Dominican points then Sand – or “Smashlee” as one sign in the crowd read – ended the set with a kill, then a tip that caught HPU's defense off guard. Dominican scored 11 of the final 12 points to close out the set.

Dominican had all the momentum in the third set and appeared on the brink of straight-set win but the Sea Warriors rallied. The Lady Penguins jumped ahead 18-14 on a Stocking-Siagkris kill that started with a Batchelder dig. Yet, seven points from a set victory, Dominican succumbed to strong finish by HPU.

The Lady Penguins regrouped in the fourth set after four times trailing by three points, the last time at 17-14. Dominican scored four straight points to take an 18-17 lead but HPU responded by scoring six consecutive points for a 23-18 advantage en route to the 25-22 decision.

Dominican fell behind early and never recovered in the decisive fifth set. Up by three, HPU extended the deficit to six. Dominican cut it to four before a Haley Doerfler kill gave HPU the match.

The Lady Penguins conclude their 2012 season with a four-game road trip beginning Friday, Nov. 2 at Holy Names University in Oakland.